Upholstery fabric

Abstract

An upholstered three dimensional structure incorporating an internal core and a knitted fabric cover, in which there is provided in the cover a line along which the fabric is less extensible compared to the surrounding fabric, the line being positioned on the fabric such that the line curves over an edge of the core so that on stretching the fabric over the core the less extensible line is displaced from the general plane of the fabric towards the core.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An upholstered three dimensional structure incorporating an internal core and a knitted fabric cover, wherein there is provided in the cover a line along which the fabric is less extensible compared to the surrounding fabric, the line being positioned on the fabric such that the line curves over an edge of the core so that on stretching the fabric over the core the less extensible line is displaced from the general plane of the fabric towards the core. 
     
     
       2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core is a foam bun. 
     
     
       3. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line engages a recess in the core or cuts into the core. 
     
     
       4. A structure as claimed in claim wherein the upholstered structure is a part of a seat. 
     
     
       5. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line is formed by knitting the fabric cover such that it is less extensible along the line by virtue of one of the number, density and type of stitches used. 
     
     
       6. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one reinforcement member is knitted into the fabric along the said line. 
     
     
       7. A structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reinforcement member is of a material inherently less extensible than the fabric on knitting. 
     
     
       8. A structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reinforcement member is capable of treatment after knitting to form the line. 
     
     
       9. A structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reinforcement member is a heat shrinkable yarn. 
     
     
       10. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fabric is double jersey fabric. 
     
     
       11. A structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reinforcement member is applied in a course-wise direction. 
     
     
       12. A structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fabric is a double jersey fabric and a reinforcement member is applied to one layer only of the double jersey fabric. 
     
     
       13. A structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the reinforcement member is formed into a stitch at every second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth location, the reinforcement member being floated over the missed stitches between the front and rear of the fabric. 
     
     
       14. A structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein there is a plurality of reinforcement members, each course of reinforcement members picking up the next adjacent stitch to the previous course. 
     
     
       15. A structure as claimed in claim 13, wherein there are as many courses as there are sets of knitted stitches and missed stitches. 
     
     
       16. A structure as claimed in claim 15, in which the said line is two to eight courses wide in a course-wise direction. 
     
     
       17. A structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reinforcement member is one of an elastomeric thread, a heat-fusible thread or a heat-shrinkable thread. 
     
     
       18. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided a line in a wale-wise direction, in which at least one needle is not knitted on in the wale-wise direction whilst knitting the fabric, so that there is provided a less extensible line in a wale-wise direction. 
     
     
       19. A structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the line is two to four wales wide when knitted in a wale-wise direction.